Blog vs Article: What Is The Difference?

Blog vs Article: What's the difference anyway?

That’s a common question from business owners who are just starting their SEO journey and from novice copywriters.

Well, on the World Wide Web, blogs and articles are seemingly interchangeable. And that mostly confuses people. But the truth is that they contain distinct characteristics.

To help clear things up, let’s take a quick look at the key differences between these two forms of web content and get a better idea of which is best suited for your communication style and digital marketing goals.

Why Business Owners & Writers Get Confused

Business owners and writers often get confused about blogs and articles because they look quite similar.

So, how are blogs different from other articles published on the internet?

It goes without saying that both involve writing on content! However, blogs tend to express the author’s own perspectives or expertise using a conversational tone.

Conversely, articles prioritize objectivity, factual accuracy, and in-depth analysis in a more formal tone and rely on credible sources for evidence.

Understanding the subtleties of each writing format is essential for effective communication.

What Is A Blog?

A blog is a dynamic, regularly updated site (or part of a website) with conversational content from personal perspectives. It tends to focus on sharing opinions, experiences, and expertise, and it’s a core content form that supports a business's digital marketing strategy. Today, many blogs are respected sources of news and information.

What Is A Blog Post?

A blog post is a single entry on a blog. Blog posts can be short or long and range from recipes to industry-related topics to philosophical analyses. They’re usually written in a conversational, engaging style and reflect the personal opinions of the author. Nowadays, blog posts are an important part of content marketing and search engine optimization (SEO).

What Is An Article?

An article is a write-up that informs its readers based on facts, analysis, or an in-depth topic exploration. It intends to have an objective view of things. Usually published in magazines or newspapers (online or on paper), articles have a rather formal tone with credible sources and evidence to support claims.

Article vs Blog: Key Differences

In digital marketing, each type of written content has different dynamics and serves different goals. Though blog posts are more commonly seen on websites, articles are also an effective content type, depending on your communication strategy.

1. Purpose & Audience Interaction

• Blogs are primarily used for sharing opinions, experiences, and insights on a specific topic. They are also a great way to level up your SEO and content marketing success.
• Articles focus on providing facts, analysis, or in-depth exploration of a subject. They are usually informative and are written to educate, update, or impress the reader.

2. Point Of View & Voice

• Blogs tend to use an informal tone that often reflects the personality and experiences of the author. Such an informal style makes them friendly and approachable for readers.
• Articles are more formal and objective, stressing neutrality and factual accuracy.

3. Publication Platform

• Blogs are usually hosted on a blogging platform or a website where separate posts appear in reverse chronological order.
  These days, most websites have a blog category with keyword-focused posts that enhance their search engine optimization efforts.

• Articles appear in online (or printed) magazines, newspapers, or other publications. And this is actually the key difference between a blog and an article. True, blog posts rarely appear in ‘formal’ news publications.

4. Length & Writing Style

• Blogs are very varied in length, from short, informal updates to longer, more in-depth pieces. The writing style is rather conversational and engaging, using a personal touch to connect with readers.
• Articles are longer and more comprehensive, taking a lot of research and detailed analysis. The writing style is formal, structured, and factual.

5. Research

• Blogs may involve research, but the focus is often on personal insights and experiences.
• Articles heavily rely on credible sources, data, and evidence to support claims and arguments.

6. Reader Engagement

• Blogs encourage reader interaction through social media sharing and subscription options.
• Articles emphasize the delivery of information.
  Today, articles also encourage audience conversation via comments, though this was originally a blog feature.

Practical Advice: What Writers Should Know On Blog vs Article Writing

If you are a copywriter or a beginner journalist, here’s some practical advice when you are wondering how to go about writing a blog post or an article:

Determine Your Primary Goal For The Content

The purpose of the content often defines a blog post from an article.

Do you want to inform and educate your audience on a specific topic (article) or share personal opinions, experiences, and insights (blog)? The purpose will guide your writing style, tone, and overall structure.

Write With The Audience & Interaction In Mind

Identify your target audience and understand their preferred style of communication.

For example, if your audience values informative and objective content, an article would be a suitable format.

On the other hand, if you're targeting an audience that enjoys conversational and engaging content with opportunities for interaction, a blog post would be a better choice.

Back in the days when personal blogs rolled out, personal blogs were used as someone’s online space to share thoughts, opinions, or even family photos - without caring about promoting their skills or making money out of it.

Blogs were among the first online media that offered audience conversation features via comments at the ‘Discussion’ section at the bottom of the blog posts.

Today, though, most news platforms encourage reader discussions to enhance interaction and search engine visibility.

Consider Where Your Content Will Be Published

If you're writing for a personal blog or website, a blog post format would be appropriate. However, if you're aiming for publication in a magazine, newspaper, or journal, an article format would be more suitable.

Note that quality blog posts and articles can also be used as sources for other people’s writings.

In this case, they are usually linked to your writing, boosting your website's off-page SEO profile and strengthening its SERP (Search Engine Results Page) positioning.

Decide On How Much You Want To Write & How Deep You Want To Go

Blogs can be from a few lines to longer ones, even reaching the size of articles. Articles are longer and more comprehensive pieces that explore the subject matter in depth.

Determine The Research Level Of Your Content

Articles usually need extensive research, using credible sources, data, and evidence to support claims and arguments.

While blogs may also require some research, the focus is often on personal insights and experiences. However, many blog posts are well-researched pieces, raising the credibility of a website or author.

Adopt A Writing Style Appropriate For Your Marketing Goals

Blog posts usually have free-style writing that is more immediate and objective. Their main purpose is to identify with the reader and present information easily.

On the other hand, articles tend to be formal and objective, with an emphasis on clarity, accuracy, and neutrality.

So, consider these factors to pick the appropriate writing format for your next content writing project.

Outsourcing SEO Blog Post Writing To Skyrocket Your Rankings

If you’re a business owner who wants to make the most out of your website with SEO-optimized blog posts, it’s always best to partner with a professional SEO copywriting agency to boost your pages in SERPs effectively.

Professional SEO copywriters incorporate targeted keywords and the latest on-page SEO tactics in website texts. This strategically expands your site’s niche authority and brings your posts right in front of the eyes of your target audience.

Ready to experience professional SEO advantage? Contact our team at Atropos Digital SEO Agency.

Blogs, Articles & Websites: FAQs

Is A Blog An Article?

A blog is not an article. A blog is an online platform or website category that includes a collection of blog posts.

What’s An Article vs A Website?

An article is a piece of written content, while a website is a collection of web pages hosted in a web server under a dedicated domain name. An article can be published on a website, but a website is definitely not an article!

Is A Blog Considered An Article?

A blog post can resemble an article at times, but it is not technically an article because of its difference in purpose, tone, and structure.